As I grew to manhood, got educated and travelled the world a bit, I would return and shake my head at the backward things I saw and heard at Scottish football grounds. But as I interacted with a wider variety of people I soon realised that much of the tribal chanting at football was empty rhetoric which only a few disturbed souls took seriously. There were and are deep rooted issues of ethnicity and identity in modern Scotland. The Protestant working class in particular have seen vast swathes of their belief system undermined. Industries they dominated have collapsed, few bother with the Kirk and echoes of Empire now seen trite and outdated. Ideas of inclusive Scottish-ness in the new millennium do not sit comfortably with the perceived aping of Ulster Unionist ideologies. The ‘No one likes us we don’t care’ mentality is honestly held by some who follow Rangers. They feel a little betrayed by a society which in many ways sped past them as they sat in time capsule Ibrox.

With a European ban imposed on cash strapped Rangers, there proved to be more incentive to reach third place as it offered a place in the Champions League, Europe's elite competition. Having watched Apoel Nicosia and Genk punch above their weight alongside the continent's finest this season, Motherwell fans are now in dreamland as they saw off a late challenge from Dundee United to achieve the much sought after third spot. Having followed the Lanarkshire club home and away throughout the season, I have picked out the ten moments which I consider to be the most vital in Motherwell's finest Scottish Premier League season to date.